EYES ON THE PRIZE
‘You leave him alone’ yells Molly Qerim as Stephen A. Smith tells off First Take guest on air for live TV error
Qerim and Smith's exchange came amidst a lively debate about the NBA
FIRST Take host Molly Qerim has bluntly called out Stephen A. Smith live on air.
Early in Wednesday's show, Qerim and Smith were joined by Brian Windhorst and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo as they discussed the upcoming NBA Draft and the recent flurry of trades.
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Qerim, Windhorst, and Russo were all in unfamiliar surroundings, hosting from a studio in Bristol, Connecticut, while Smith remained in New York.
The crew debated whether or not the Phoenix Suns should consider trading Devin Booker or Kevin Durant with the Houston Rockets reportedly interested in both, as per Windhorst.
This comes after the Rockets traded 2025 and 2026 first-round picks as well as the lesser of the first-rounders in 2029 belonging to themselves, the Dallas Mavericks, or the Suns, to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, as per the NBA.
In exchange, the Nets pulled off a swap of 2025 first-rounders (Houston/Oklahoma City Thunder for Phoenix), the Suns' 2027 first-rounder, and the rights to two of the most favorable first-rounders in 2029 between the Mavericks, Rockets, and Suns.
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During the discussion, when Windhorst spoke to the camera, Russo could be seen looking over at his colleague, meaning the viewers were simply watching the side of "Mad Dog's" head.
As such, Smith intervened as Windhorst explained Houston's perspective on ingesting heavily in a star like Booker or Durant.
"Doggy a couple of things, number one, when Windy's talking just look straight," he told his colleague.
"Stop looking at Windy because on the camera you're looking sideways and the audience doesn't see you, they see the side of your face."
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But Qerim was quick to defend Russo, jumping in and telling Smith to "leave him alone," explaining that "the camera follows him."
"Let me do the show!" Russo replied to Smith, adding that his comments would make him self-conscious.
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Qerim then went on to call on Smith to "just admit that you miss us a teeny bit."
But Smith wasted no time in swatting down any suggestions that he missed his colleagues.
Quick to get the conversation back on topic, Smith then broke an update on the Booker/Durant situation.
"Pay no attention to what Phoenix is saying, they want out of Kevin Durant right now," he relayed from an unnamed source.
This contradicts a report from AZ Central, stating that the Suns intend to keep the duo, as well as Bradley Beal.
"Also, Houston doesn't want Kevin Durant," Smith subsequently added.
2024 NBA Draft order - lottery picks
- Atlanta Hawks
- Washington Wizards
- Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn)
- San Antonio Spurs
- Detroit Pistons
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto)
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Utah Jazz
- Chicago Bulls
- Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston)
- Sacramento Kings
- Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State)
"[Head coach] Ime Udoka may want him, but organizationally they know that they are not there yet.
"So their plans are more long range, and they would prefer a Devin Booker who they know there's a slim chance they'll get, but that would be their preference."
Windhorst insisted that while he trusted in Smith's reporting, he still felt there must have been a reason Houston pulled off their trade.
Read More on The US Sun
Meanwhile, the countdown to the draft continues.
It is scheduled to start at 8 pm ET on Wednesday from New York's Barclays Center.
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